The Montgomery College baseball team, from Rockville, Md., poses for a photo with Delk Photography at Mike Carter Field on Friday. Montgomery College is playing in the 2013 NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series at Mike Carter Field with their first game at 9 a.m. Saturday. (Shannon Wilson | Tyler Morning Telegraph)

The team photos have been taken; the barbeque and Tex-Mex have been eaten; the boots and cowboy hats have been fitted; so it’s time to get down to business.

Eight teams representing Texas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Illinois have converged on the Rose City for the seventh straight year for the NJCAA Division III World Series. The 22nd annual tourney gets under way today.

Teams represented in the double-elimination tournament include: Brookhaven College from Farmers Branch; Niagara County Community College Thunderwolves, Sanborn, N.Y.; Waubonsee Community College Chiefs, Sugar Grove, Ill.; Montgomery College Raptors, Rockville, Md.; Century College Mighty Wood Ducks, White Bear Lake, Minn.; Nassau Community College Lions, Garden City, N.Y.; Gloucester County College Roadrunners, Sewell, N.J.; and Northern Essex Community College Knights, Haverhill, Mass.

Niagara (37-16) plays Montgomery (40-15) in the 9 a.m. opener, followed by Century (38-11) vs. Gloucester (45-3) at noon, Waubonsee (36-22) vs. Brookhaven (31-18) at 4 p.m. and Nassau (19-16) vs. Northern Essex (18-14) at 7 p.m.

Before the Brookhaven and Waubonsee game, there are several activities planned — a flyover, the national anthem performed by up-and-coming singer Taylor Heard, the John Tyler ROTC presenting the flags and the first pitch will be thrown by sponsors and Tyler Junior College assistant athletic director Chuck Smith, who recently returned from another deployment in the Middle East.

Also, the U.S. Army will be making dog tags for the kids.

SERIES STUFF: Ticket prices are $20 (all-tournament pass), $5 (single day adult pass), $3 (single day pass students/children) and free (children 10 & under and any Little League Player in uniform and military with proper ID). … Mike Carter Field is located at 1900 W. Houston St. … Tyler will host the tourney in 2014 and 2015 as well. … Tuesday will be Texas Educator Day at the park. Anyone who shows proper school ID will get in for $1. … Comcast SportsNet Houston will air the championship game on Wednesday and, if necessary, on Thursday. Lyn Rollins, the voice of LSU baseball, will handle play-by-play duties and will be joined by former TJC coach Dr. Jon Groth as color analyst. Visit www.csnhouston.com/channel-finder for channel locations.

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Team Capsules

By Dr. Jonathon Groth

 

District A

School: Niagara County Community College

Enrollment: 7,431

Location: Sanborn, N.Y.

Miles from Tyler: 1,337

Nickname: Thunderwolves

Coach: Matt Clingersmith (sixth year)

Record: 37-16

Ranking: No. 4

WS Appearances: Fourth (1998, 2009, 2012, 2013)

Tyler Appearances: Three (2009, 2012, 2013)

National Championships: none

 

District B

School: Waubonsee Community College

Enrollment: 5,100

Location: Sugar Grove, Ill.

Miles from Tyler: 893

Nickname: Chiefs

Coach: Dave Randall (36th year)

Record: 36-22

Ranking: No. 6

WS Appearances: Third (1996, 2010, 2013)

Tyler Appearances: Second (2010, 2013)

National Championships: none

 

District C

School: Brookhaven College

Enrollment: 5,682

Location: Farmers Branch, Texas

Miles from Tyler: 109

Nickname: Bears

Coach: Brandon Rains (second year)

Record: 31-18

Ranking: No. 5

WS Appearances: First (2013)

Tyler Appearances: First (2013)

National Championships: none

 

District D

School: Montgomery College (formerly Montgomery-Germantown Gryphons)

Enrollment: 1,060

Location: Rockville, Md.

Miles from Tyler: 1,295

Nickname: Raptors

Coach: Dan Rascher (eighth year)

Record: 40-15

Ranking: No. 3

WS Appearances: 11th (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)

Tyler Appearances: Sixth (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)

National Championships: none

 

District E

School: Century College

Enrollment: 6,100

Location: White Bear Lake, Minn.

Miles from Tyler: 986

Nickname: Mighty Wood Ducks

Coach: Dwight Kotila (third year)

Record: 40-15

Ranking: No. 3

WS Appearances: First (2013)

Tyler Appearances: First (2013)

National Championships: none

 

District F

School: Nassau Community College

Enrollment: 15,000

Location: Garden City, N.Y.

Miles from Tyler: 1,539

Nickname: Lions

Coach: Larry Minor (16th year)

Record: 19-16

Ranking: No. 10

WS Appearances: Third (2010, 2012, 2013)

Tyler Appearances: Third (2010, 2012, 2013)

National Championships: One (1966)

 

District G

School: Gloucester Community College

Enrollment: 6,600

Location: Sewell, N.J.

Miles from Tyler: 1,420

Nickname: Roadrunners

Coach: Mike Dickson (eighth year)

Record: 45-3

Ranking: No. 1

WS Appearances: 18 (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Tyler Appearances: Five (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

National Championships: Seven (1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2010)

 

District H

School: Northern Essex Community College

Enrollment: 4,152

Location: Haverhill, Mass.

Miles from Tyler: 1,750

Nickname: Knights

Coach: Jeff Mejia (first year)

Record: 18-14

Ranking: No. 8

WS Appearances: Third (2006, 2012, 2013)

Tyler Appearances: Second (2012, 2013)

National Championships: none

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All Games at Mike Carter Field

Saturday’s Games

Game 1: Niagara (37-16) vs. Montgomery (40-15), 9 a.m.

Game 2: Century (38-11) vs. Gloucester (45-3), noon

Game 3: Waubonsee (36-22) vs. Brookhaven (31-18), 4 p.m.

Game 4: Nassau (19-16) vs. Northern Essex (18-14), 7 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 9 a.m.

Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, noon

Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.

Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 7 p.m.

Monday

Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6, noon

Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.

Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.

Tuesday

Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 9, 4 p.m.

Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Game 14: (Championship Game), Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 7 p.m.

Thursday

Game 15: (If necessary) Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 14, 7 p.m.